Innovation means identifying something that’s not working, something not solving the actual problem completely or something not working optimally and building a better mouse trap and disrupting a category or an industry. New solutions are coming to market daily but only a handful of them actually become big and successful and change the world for the better, or what I call, real innovation. In order to come up with real world-changing innovations requires thinking differently, challenging status quo, connecting the dots, thinking super critically, and being bold and daring. In my research I find that people who are successful serious innovators didn’t just wake up one day and felt their brain swell up with ideas. It took practice; practice in training their brain, thinking through ideas, trying ideas and failing; thinking differently. Here are 10 Ways to Train Your Brain to Think Different.
- Next time you fill out a ballot, start from the end and work yourself backwards.
- Read something that shares a perspective or holds a position that you know you will disagree with.
- Pick a random topic you know nothing about and research it thoroughly.
- Pick a mainstream / common product (like toothpaste/toothbrush, car’s turn signal, a knife – you get the idea) and write 5 to 10 problems with it.
- Eat at a restaurant of a cuisine you have never tried before. Read up on the region the cuisine from beforehand.
- Watch an episode or two of the “How It’s Made” show.
- Learn and use 5 features of your smartphone you have never used before or didn’t even know about.
- Learn a completely new skill to the point where you can teach it to somebody else.
- Take on a brand new hobby and read as much about it as possible
- Learn how to play a musical instrument